NASCAR
23XI Racing, Front Row Motorsports to Compete as Chartered Teams for 2025 after Winning Injunction
Ruled Wednesday by United States District Judge Kenneth D. Bell, 23XI Racing and Front Row Motorsports will race as chartered teams under NASCAR’s new agreement for 2025. Their plea for a preliminary injunction before the antitrust case has been granted. In addition, the judge also ruled that the sale of both former Stewart-Haas Racing charters must be approved to each team. The on-track product will likely see little change as the court proceedings formally begin.
Both teams inquired the ability to compete as chartered entries while taking antitrust actions against the sanctioning body. This violated a clause in the charter agreement, withholding both teams’ ability to sign the deal. Judge Bell said in his writing: “Can a monopolist require that a party agree to release the monopolist from all claims that it is violating the antitrust laws as a condition of doing business? The answer is no.”
Bell made the stipulation for this preliminary injunction that each team must have been able to prove the following conditions:
- It is likely to succeed on the merits,
- it is likely to suffer irreparable harm absent injunctive relief,
- the balance of the equities tips in its favor, and
- the injunction would be in the public interest.
The teams’ initial filing for the preliminary injunction on Nov. 8 was denied. The court claimed that the plaintiffs had to show more proof of irreparable harm that could come from competing as open teams.
Further proceedings have revealed that drivers and sponsors from both teams had expressed concerns over their continued agreements with the ongoing legal drama. In particular Bubba Wallace and Tyler Reddick were both at-risk of exploring options with other teams if they could not find adequate support.
In short, both 23XI Racing and Front Row will compete as normal teams for the foreseeable future. Both organizations will also be able to add a third car. Riley Herbst will join 23XI Racing and a TBD driver will seemingly be coming to FRM.
Judge Bell did also clarify that “A Case Management schedule will be set by the Court which, in the absence of a voluntary resolution of this dispute among the Parties, provides for a trial on Plaintiffs’ claims to be concluded in advance of the beginning of the 2026 NASCAR race season.”
“We welcome today’s decision by Judge Bell granting a preliminary injunction in our favor,” said 23XI/FRM attorney Jeffrey Kessler. “The court’s ruling allows 23XI and Front Row Motorsports to race existing cars as chartered teams in next year’s Cup Series. The decision also requires NASCAR to approve both teams’ purchases of a third charter from Stewart-Haas Racing and allow these cars to also race as chartered teams in the 2025 season. We are confident in the strength of our case and will continue to fight so that racing can thrive and become a more competitive and fair sport in ways that benefit teams, drivers, sponsors, and, most importantly, our fans.”
The full preliminary injunction ruling can be read below.
Written by Peter Stratta
Be sure to follow us on Twitter/X
Be sure to follow the writer on Twitter/X
Photo Credits to Sean Gardner, Meg Oliphant, and Jared C. Tilton/Getty Images
